Howard F. Powell
Feb. 20, 1883-Sept. 30, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, October 1, 1953, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Owner of Niles Hotel Killed in Southern Crash

Auto Accident Injury Fatal to Howard Powell, 70, at Columbia, S.C.

COLUMBIA, S.C. [Special]--The owner of the Powell Hotel in Niles, Mich., was fatally injured in a two car collision Wednesday while enroute to his Florida home after visiting Niles relatives.

Howard Powell, 70, now of Zephyrhills, Fla., died a short time after his car was struck by an auto driven by Maj. Robert D. Williams, of Scott Air Force Base, Ill., at the intersection of US-76 and US-601 about 19 miles east of here.

Mrs. Ruth Williams, wife of the major, was hospitalized at the Shaw Air Force Base Hospital, about 12 miles from the scene of the crash. Her condition was not known today.

According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, Mrs. Powell, wife of the dead man and Maj. Williams did not require hospitalization.

Patrolmen said Powell was driving south on US-601 when his car was struck by the Williams; vehicle being driven west on US-76. They said US-76 is the through route.

A report of the injuries causing Powell's death was not immediately available.  The accident occurred at about 5:30 p.m.

Relatives in Niles said Powell and his wife left Niles Monday to return to their winter home in Zephyrhills, where Powell operates the Zephyr Hotel. He and his wife had spent an extended summer vacation with the Nilesites.

Surviving are his wife, Mabel; three sons, Lawrence N. of Indianapolis, Harley H. of South Bend and Ralph L. of Niles; three grandchildren; one brother, Homer Powell of Findlay, O., and one sister, Mrs. Esta Vandermark of Warsaw, Ind.

He was born in Marshall County, Ind., on Feb. 20, 1883, and came to Niles from Cando, N.D., in 1914. Powell was a member of the Niles Elks Lodge and of the Zephyrhills Lions Club,and was a director of the Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, Niles from Friday afternoon until service time. Funeral arrangements will be announced Friday.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, October 2, 1953, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

POWELL RITES SET

Services for Howard F. Powell will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. L. George Beacock, Methodist pastor, will officiate, and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Powell was fatally injured in an auto accident at Columbia, S.C., while enroute to Florida after visiting Niles relatives and friends. He was owner of the Powell Hotel here and the Zephyr Hotel at Zephyrhills, Fla., where he resided most of the time the last several years.

Louisa Schier
April 22, 1879-Sept. 22, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, September 22, 1953, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Louisa Schier, 74, of 903 Ferry street, died at 6:15 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital following an illness of two weeks. She was admitted to the hospital Monday.

Mrs. Schier was born April 22, 1879 in Oconee, Ill., and came to Niles from Three Oaks in 1910. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Her husband, Frederick, died Dec. 31, 1945.

Surviving are: a son, Louis Schier of Niles, two daughters, Mrs. Clifton Fay and Mrs. Clifford Shirk, both Niles; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. James Brown, also Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Kiger Funeral home, here with the Rev. Richard Bonner, pastor of the Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Joseph Slezinger Sr.
April 13, 1880-Oct. 1, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Friday, October 2, 1953, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Joseph Slezinger Sr., 73, who was found earlier this week lying in a coma on the floor of his room in the Kugler Hotel here, died at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Berrien County Hospital at Berrien Center where he was transferred from Pawating Hospital here.

According to officials at Pawating Hospital, Slezinger had suffered a possible stroke and a possible head injury.

He was born April 13, 1880, in Czechoslovakia and came here 18 years ago from Edwardsburg. He is survived by a son, Joseph Slezinger Jr.,  Westchester, Ill., and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the Kiger Funeral Home here.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Edward O. Vinson
Jan. 30, 1868-Oct. 26, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 27, 1953, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

BUCHANAN--Edward O. Vinson, 85, of 105 Moccasin avenue, died at 7:15 p.m. Monday in the Clear Lake Woods Rest Home, where he had been a patient since June. He had been ill for two years.

Vinson was born Jan. 30, 1868, in Indiana and came to Buchanan in 1928 following his marriage to Nettie Arney in South Bend.  She died June 26, 1953.

Surviving are: a step-daughter, Mrs. Louise Tuttle of South Bend; a grandson, and a nephew.

Funeral services will be held at 1: 30 p.m  Wednesday in the Swem Funeral Home here with the Rev. H. Carlyle Carson, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Wilbur F. Wilken
July 15, 1906-Aug. 27, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 28, 1953, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Wilbur F. Wilken, 45, of 1830 Sycamore street, died at 6:20 p.m. Thursday at Pawating Hospital after a six-month illness.

He was born in Michigan City, Ind., on July 15, 1906, and lived most of his live[sic] in Niles. He was employed by the New York Central Railroad here. He was a member of the Carmen of America, the American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans.

Surviving are: his mother, Mrs. Minnie Wilken of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. William Pearson of Bellingham, Wash.; a son, Robert who is serving with the Air Force in Hawaii; a brother, Charles of Niles; three sisters, Mrs. Donald Walters of Michigan City, Mrs. Roy Hoadley of Three Oaks and Mrs. Robert Gleason of Niles; a grandmother, Mrs. Paul Arch of Michigan City; two grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook but arrangements for funeral services are incomplete.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, August 29, 1953, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

WILKEN RITES SET

Funeral services for Wilbur F. Wilken, 1830 Sycamore street, who died Thursday, will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Kiger Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Members of the Rebekah Lodge will meet at the Funeral home at 1:45 p.m. Monday to attend the funeral.

Harry H. Williams
July 2, 1875-Aug. 15, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, August 15, 1953, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Harry H. Williams, 78, of 818 Emmons street, retired carpenter, died at 7:20 a.m. today at his home. He had been ill two years.

Williams was born July 2,1875, in Niles and lived here all his life. He was married May 31, 1903, in South Bend to Clara A. Morehouse, who survives.

Also surviving are: a daughter, Mrs. Melvin Brown, Colorado Springs, Colo., and three sons, Floyd and Orville, both Niles, and Thomas, Camden, N.J.

Funeral services will be held at the Kiger Funeral Home at 2 p.m. Monday with the Rev. G.A. Steeby, pastor of the First Evangelical United Brethren Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.